GTA 6 Wiki | Grand Theft Auto VI Wiki

Characters and Setting

Grand Theft Auto VI, the latest action-adventure installment in the renowned gaming franchise, unfolds in the expansive and fictional state of Leonida, modeled after Florida. This setting includes the notorious Vice City, a fictional representation of Miami, which has been a pivotal location in the series since the original Grand Theft Auto (1997) and prominently featured in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002) and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories (2006). The game's world is a satirical take on modern American culture, poking fun at social media, influencer trends, and Internet phenomena like the infamous 'Florida Man.'
At the heart of GTA 6 narrative is the criminal duo of Lucia, the series' first leading female character since 2000, and her yet-to-be-named male partner. The gripping storyline, yet to be fully unveiled, starts with Lucia as a prison inmate. The first trailer dramatically shows her and her partner escaping custody, setting the stage for their adventures.
GTA VI's expansive world spans several counties within Leonida, including Vice-Dale County, the vibrant heart of Vice City with its iconic neon-lit streets. Trailers and promotional materials have so far revealed three counties by name, hinting at the vastness of the game's map. However, the full extent of the playable area in Leonida remains a mystery, eagerly awaited by fans worldwide.
Development

Rockstar Games initially confirmed the development of Grand Theft Auto VI on February 4, 2022, setting off waves of anticipation. On July 7, 2022, they revealed a significant shift of resources and staff towards this new installment, emphasizing their commitment to surpassing player expectations and making it the best possible addition to the GTA series. This commitment was echoed by Take-Two Interactive in their Q1 2023 Earnings Call on August 8, 2022, highlighting the game's creative progress. Later, in their Q4 2023 Earnings Call on May 17, 2023, Take-Two projected groundbreaking titles for Fiscal Year 2025, aiming for over $8 billion in Net Bookings, with GTA VI being a cornerstone of this vision.
The official name, Grand Theft Auto VI, was unveiled with the game's first trailer on December 4, 2023. Take-Two soon after celebrated the upcoming 2025 release, marking a new milestone for Rockstar Games.
Speculation and anticipation for GTA 6 were rife since GTA V's release in 2013. Initial hints from Rockstar North's, then president Leslie Benzies and subsequent reports indicated a Vice City setting, a female protagonist, and a narrative inspired by Bonnie and Clyde. Jason Schreier's 2020 report suggested an evolving game world, aiming to mitigate crunch. Following a series of fan frustrations and high-profile interruptions at live events referencing the game, Rockstar confirmed in February 2022 that development was progressing strongly.
In 2023, as Rockstar celebrated its 25th anniversary, the announcement of GTA VI's first trailer became a sensation, rapidly becoming the most-liked gaming-related post on platform X. Following a leak on December 4, Rockstar released the official trailer, showcasing the title, protagonists, Vice City setting, and a 2025 release for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, with no Windows version announced. The trailer broke YouTube records with 46 million views in 12 hours, 93 million in 24 hours, and 101 million in two days, surpassing GTA V's 2011 reveal trailer. The trailer's featured song, Tom Petty's "Love Is a Long Road," experienced a surge in popularity, reflecting the immense impact and excitement surrounding Grand Theft Auto 6.
Announcement

Rockstar Games made its initial announcement for the next Grand Theft Auto installment in February 2022 via the Rockstar Newswire. Fast forward to November 8, 2023, during their 25th anniversary thank-you post, Rockstar revealed that the first trailer for the much-anticipated game would debut in early December of the same year.
On December 1, 2023, Rockstar specified that the trailer would be released on December 5 at 9:00 AM US Eastern Time. An exclusive overlay on Rockstar's official website, showcasing palm trees against a sunset, set the stage for the trailer's release. Following this announcement, Rockstar Games removed all previous posts from their Instagram feed.
However, less than 16 hours before the scheduled release, the trailer was leaked online. In response, Rockstar advanced the premiere to 6:00 PM US Eastern Time that same day. This move proved successful, as the trailer quickly garnered over 90 million views within the first 24 hours, becoming the second most viral YouTube video ever.
The trailer's success was officially recognized by the Guinness World Records, shattering three records: the most viewed video game reveal on YouTube in 24 hours with 90,421,491 views, the most liked video game trailer on YouTube with 8.9 million likes in the first 24 hours, and the most viewed non-music video on YouTube in 24 hours, surpassing Mr Beast's "Every Country On Earth Fights For $250,000."
Controversy

On September 18, 2022, a major leak regarding the next Grand Theft Auto game occurred when a GTAForums user named 'teapotuberhacker' uploaded over 90 videos and screenshots, claiming they were from the upcoming title. This leak quickly exploded across the internet, with numerous media outlets labeling it as potentially the "biggest leak in video game history." The leaked content included behind-the-scenes development footage, revealing character names and locations for the next Grand Theft Auto installment.
In response to the rapid spread of the leaked materials, Take-Two Interactive swiftly took legal action, issuing takedown notices to websites hosting the videos and images. Concurrently, threads on GTA Forums hosting the leaked content were either removed or locked at the behest of Take-Two.
The following day, September 19, 2022, Rockstar Games issued a public statement condemning the actions of the hacker. They reassured fans that the leak would not disrupt their live services or the development of upcoming games, affirming their commitment to officially introducing the game when it is fully prepared. Additionally, Take-Two Interactive reported the security breach to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on the same day, marking the seriousness of the incident.
Trivia

• Grand Theft Auto VI marks a milestone in the series by introducing its first voiced female protagonist, a departure from the previously silent female characters portrayed as criminals.
• This installment seems to be the first numbered game since Grand Theft Auto III to adopt the "subtitle version" of the GTA Pricedown logo, signifying a notable change in branding style.
• Following the announcement of GTA 6 first trailer release date, several game studios mimicked the announcement style of Rockstar Games. Studios like Mediatonic with Fall Guys, 343 Industries with Halo, and Raven Software with Call of Duty, all posted mock announcements on platform X, emulating the style, color scheme, and timing of the GTA announcement.
• The unveiling of the State of Leonida in the first trailer subtly alters previous references to Florida in Grand Theft Auto 6 made by characters like Niko Bellic and Hossan Ramzy, and Weazel News. Nevertheless, the game seems to stay true to the established lore of the HD Universe's Vice City, maintaining its geographical and cultural characteristics.
• Intriguingly, the first trailer also hints at Grove Street Games having utilized assets from Grand Theft Auto VI in their 2021 project, Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition, as seen in details like the Daewang logo.